Latest Strib poll: Nolan leads Cravaack in the 8th

U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack, left, R-North Branch, listens as Democratic challenger Rick Nolan makes a point during a debate in Duluth on Oct. 9.

The latest Star Tribune poll has freshman Republican Chip Cravaack trailing in his re-election bid to DFL challenger Rick Nolan, who last served in Congress more than three decades ago.

Nolan leads 50 percent to 43 percent, according to a poll of likely voters in the Eighth Congressional District, which includes Duluth and the Iron Range and has long been a DFL stronghold, conducted last week for the Star Tribune.

The race is garnering national attention – and dollars – as Democrats try to swing the pendulum back that two years ago saw Republicans capture the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time. The race has attracted more than $4 million from both national parties and outside interest groups.

The poll found Cravaack has left constituents with evenly divided views of his first-term performance. Overall, 41 percent view him favorably, while 40 percent say they have an unfavorable impression.Here’s the full story.

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Months after a 67 year old Lakeville man and his plane went missing in Northern Minnesota, a weekend search still found nothing.

Civil Air Patrol crews conducting a training exercise in the Northland over the weekend did not turn up any signs of pilot Mike Bratlie or his Piper PA-31 that went missing June 8. Then crews searched from both air and ground for 13 days, covering 2,000 square miles with no success.

Eight planes took to the skies again Saturday. Although no sign of Bratlie or his plane was found, “everybody (got) an opportunity to sharpen their skills” for future search efforts, Capt. George Supan, public information officer for the Civil Air Patrol’s Minnesota Wing, told the Duluth News Tribune.